Means and method for trimming blanks



Nov. 15, 1927.

1,649,634 R. l.. wlLcox MEANS AND METHOD PoR TRIMMING BLANKs Filed Dec, 12. 1924 Y 70 i/vfgojn Y/z/ Z5 /6 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 RekardLestern/lcom, WWA/Ess 1j l aMSN-0mm Nov. 15, 1927. 1,649,634

R. L. WILCOX MEANS AND METHOD FOR TRIMMING BLANKS Filed Dec, l2. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gnwmtoz .RichardLlerW/vlca@ atroz neg Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

UNITED `STATES RICHARD LESTER WELCOX,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF WATERBRY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE WATER CUT, A CORPORATION 0F CONNECTICUT.

MEANS AND METHOD FOR TRIMMIN G BLANKS.

Application filed December12, 1924. Serial No. 755,523.

This "invention relates to means and method by Whicha blank may be given a polygonal cross-section, such as the square, hexagonal or octagonal shapes of bolt heads, nuts and the like, or a many sided shape of any kind, such, for instance, as ay circular section with flat sides as on shackle bolts, or the like. By polygonal I mean any such shape.

1t is the object of this invention, among other things, to give a trimmed cross section to a blank bycutting the metal with the minimum amount of cutting pressure and With cuts that produce different cross sectional areas `at different points of the blank, and then C planishing the blank so as to provide clean, smooth, finished, unbroken surfaces, of a uniform level.

As the trimming of bolt heads, nuts or the like, has been heretofore carried out, the blank is forced through the cutting die by y a plurality of punches of varying d1- ameters, and the cut surfaces of the blank being of uniform 4cross sectional area throughout the length ofthe out surface. The breaking or tearing of the metal by the cutting operation is at the end of the cut at one endof the blank.

l have found that in trimming blanks a very superior product may be produced by using tWo cutting dies, one of Which does the major portion of the cutting and brings the excess metal or flash near the top of the head and the cut of the other `die being o a less cross sectional area and extends only alimited distance from the end of the blank. This limits the cut of the rst mentionel die and any tearing or breaking of the stock is at a `point distant from and not at the end of the blank. This undercut made by the last mentioned die provides a relief for the drawing of the stock on the cut surface as it passes through the planishing die.

ln the drawings i Figure 1 is a sectional veW of Athe dies and adjacent parts in the relative positions occupied by them when the cutting dies have partly trimmed the blank;

Figure 2 is a face vievv 0f one of the dies;

Figure 3 is a vienI of the parts similar to diesl that shown 1n Figure 1 With the cutting closer together and the operation at a more advanced stage;

Figure l is a view of the parts similar to` that shown in Figur-e 1, illustrating their relative positions after the blank has passed the cutting edges of the dies and is being advanced toward the planishing die;

Figure 5 is a View of the parts, similar to that shown in Figure 4.-, but With the blank passing through the planishing die; Figure 6' is a side and end elevation respectively of the blank as presented to the ies; y t i Figure 7 is a side and end elevation respectively of the `head portion of a blank as produced by the tools When in the relative positions occupied by them, as disclosed in Figure l;

Figure 8 is a side and end elevation `ref spectively of the head portion of a` blank asproduced by the tools When inthe rela-3 tive positions occupied by them as disclosed in Figure 3;

Figure spectively of the head portion of a blank after it has passed the cutting edges ofthe die, substantially as shown in Figure 4; an i Figure 1() is a side'and end elevation respectively of the head portion of a blank after it has passed the planishing die, substantially as shown in Figure 5.

In the embodiment of this invention,v l provide a xed die 10, Which is shown herein as having an hexagonal opening 11 therethrough, and supported adjacent thereto and in rear thereof is the pla-nishing die 12. The die 10 is shovvn as having a face 13 that reeedes slightly 'from the cutting edge 14 thereof but may be liat if desired.

In the abutting faces of each of the dies 10 and 12 are radial slots 15, Which register with each other when the dies are assembled and provide a passage for4 a streamV of cutting compound into the opening of the diesv 9 is aside and end elevation re- Ward and away for the purpose of lubricating the faces of the planishing die and to wash therethrough such chips, if any, as may enter the trimming die. While I have shown the dies l and 12 as being separate, they may be made a single die, and the opening produced by the slots l maybe provided in one of the dies instead of both, as shown.

A die 16 is mounted so as to be moved toward and away from the fixed die 10, and independently movable therein is a pusher rod 17, which is partially supported by a bushing 18.

Through the end of the die 16 is a hexagonal opening 19 slightly smaller than the openlng 11 and through which is movable the outer end of the pusher rod 17.

While I have shown the hexagonal openings 11 and 19 through the dies 10 and 16 respectively, it is obvious that openings of other shapes may be provided if Vdeired, the shape depending upon the shapeof the head ofthe iinished blank.

The outer end of the pusher rod 17 isv herein shown as being concaved at 20 to conform to the face of the end of the blank.

t may, however, be flat or any other shape.

Movably mounted within theopenings in 12 is the quill 21, the bore of which is substantially the same as that of the shank of the blank, which is supported therein.

In practice, itis usual held stationary to have the die and the die 16 movable totherefrom, but this `is not essential, as both dies may move or the die 16 remain stationary and the die 10 be moved in relation thereto. `In either case at the'beginning of the operation the dies are a suiiicient distanceapart to permit the placing therebetween of ablank 22 and as the die 12 then moves toward the die 10, the shank of the blank enters the quill 21, which supports and accurately centers it in relation to the openings 11 and 19. Dur` ing the `forward movement of the die 16 the concaved end of the pusher rod 17 is slightly in rear of the cutting edge 23 of the die 16 and the head of the blank, which is usually circular in cross section before the beginningof the oper-` ation is shaved by the dies 10 and 16. The length of the cut on the blank by the die 16 is determined bythe relative position of the end of the pusher rod 17 to the cutting edge 23. In practice the length ofthis cut is short compared to the length of the cut of the die 10, a fair illustration of the length of these relative cuts being shown in Figure 3.

The metal accumulated by the cutting operations is folded back over the` angular faces 13 and 211 of the dies 10 and 16 respectively, the space therebetween increasing in widthoutwardly from the openingsll and 19. Thus the surplus metal has ample space within which to free itself without interfering with the cutting operations.

In Figure 1 the tools and the blank are shown in the relative positions occupied by them when the blank is partly trimmed, while in Figure 3 withthe dies in the position when nearest to each other. In this latter figure the die 16 has come to a full stop but the pusher rod 1T continues its movement and l'orces the `blank through the die 10 and beyond the cutting edge 14, the blank and the parts in.y their then positions being shown in Figure di, and in Figure 5 the blank is shown as being passed through the planishing die 12.

A view of the blank after it has passed the cutting edge 14.- of the die 10 is shown in Figure 9, wherein it will be noted that the tear of the metal at the end of the cutting hstroke is between the lines a and t and not at the end of the blank, this being due to the fact that the cross sectional out near the head of the blank madeby the die 16 is of less cross sectional area than that made by the die 10. Thus there is no breaking or tearingof the metal at the end `of the blank. Thereafter, as the head of the blank passes through the planishing die the metal on the `cut face thereof is drawn into the relief on the head between linesa and b, filling out the same and providing a smooth surface and eliminating any possibility of breaking off of the metal at the junction of the cut faces with the end of the blank.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters "Patent, is

1. The methodof giving a trimmed cross section to` a blank, consisting of cutting the blank from opposite` ends thereof, the cut from the top of theblank being deeper than the cut fromthe bottom of the blank, and the surplus metal accumulated at the junction of the two cuts removed while the blank is passing through the Acuttingtools, and then by planishing or the like, ironout the cut surfaces so that they are smooth and at all `points throughout their length equally distant from the axis of the blank.

2. The method of givinga trimmed cross section to a blank, consisting of cutting the blank from opposite ends thereof, the cut from one end being` deeper than the cut from the other end and the cut surfaces thereafter made of a uniform level by planishing or the like, by a movement through planishing. tools that first engage the cut surface from which the thinnest cut has been taken.

3. In mechanism of the class described; a pair of oppositely disposed dies, each having an opening therethrough with cutting edges, around the openinof less area than the opening in the other die, said dies being.

movable relative to each other and cutting the blank from opposite ends thereof; and

` stop means Within the opening in one of the dies to limit to a predetermined extent the entrance ot the during the cutting operation,

blank into such opening said stop nleanS being in a predetermined position at the beginning of the cutting operation and maintaining such position during the cutting action of the die adjacent thereto.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

RICHARD LESTER- VVILCOX. 

